Baby scales

ABSTRACT

Baby scales include a housing, a weighing tray, a measuring device and a display. The weighing tray is disposed on the housing and configured to hold a baby. The measuring device is configured to support the weighing tray and to determine a weight of the baby. The measuring device includes at least one of an electric length measuring device configured to measure a length of the baby and an attachment mechanism configured to attach the electric length measuring device. The display is configured to show the determined weight of the baby.

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed to DE 10 2008 022 681.5, filed May 7, 2008.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to baby scales and specificallyto baby scales having a housing, a weighing tray installed on thehousing to hold a baby, a measuring device that supports the weighingtray and serves to determine the weight of the baby, and a display toshow the determined weight.

BACKGROUND

Baby scales of the type under discussion are used in actual practice andexist in various versions. Prior baby scales have, for example, ahousing with a weighing tray installed on the housing to hold a baby,whereby the weighing scales are installed on a measuring device fordetermining the weight of the baby. Moreover, the baby scales have adisplay to show the determined weight of the baby. Baby scales of theabove-mentioned type are used in the private realm and also ascalibrated baby scales for weighing babies in hospitals, in pediatricclinics, in doctor's offices and by midwives. The prior-art baby scalesare able to reliably determine the weight of the baby who is to beweighed.

However, when it comes to baby care, it is not only important todetermine the weight but also the length of the baby. In particular,taking into account a combination of the weight value with thecorresponding length measurement, conclusions can be drawn about thedevelopmental and nutritional state of the baby. For this purpose, afterthe babies have been weighed, they are measured with a separatemeasuring stick or measuring tape in a usually impractical procedure.Especially in hospitals and doctor's offices, where a large number ofbabies have to be taken care of at almost the same time, there is a riskthat the measuring tape or measuring stick is not at hand right away orhas even been misplaced. This considerably impairs the convenient careof the babies.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,457 describes a device for measuring the length andthe weight of babies, which includes not only scales but also a lengthmeasuring device. Disadvantageously, with this type of device, nosimultaneous and sufficiently accurate measurements of length and weightare possible.

Baby scales are also used whose weighing surface has a measuring tapeglued onto it. These scales especially have the drawback that themeasuring tape is hard to read when the baby is lying on it or next toit. Moreover, these scales have the disadvantage that the measuredvalues cannot be further processed or stored in electronic form.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide baby scales thatallow a convenient, precise and simultaneous measurement of a baby.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides baby scales including ahousing, a weighing tray, a measuring device and a display. The weighingtray is disposed on the housing and configured to hold a baby. Themeasuring device is configured to support the weighing tray and todetermine a weight of the baby. The measuring device includes at leastone of an electric length measuring device configured to measure alength of the baby and an attachment mechanism configured to attach theelectric length measuring device. The display is configured to show thedetermined weight of the baby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There are various possibilities to configure and refine the teaching ofthe present invention. In this context, reference is made to theexplanation below of an embodiment of the invention with reference tothe drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the embodiment ofthe invention with reference to the drawing, generally embodiments andrefinements of the teaching will also be explained. The following isshown in the drawing:

FIG. 1 a schematic and perspective view of an embodiment of baby scalesaccording to the invention, with a digital measuring slider,

FIG. 2 a schematic and perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.1, seen from the back and with the length measuring device removed,which in this case is an analog measuring slider,

FIG. 3 a schematic and perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.2, with an attached length measuring device, and

FIG. 4 a schematic and perspective view of two different lengthmeasuring devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the invention, an embodiment provides baby scales that arecharacterized in that the measuring device additionally, directly orindirectly, has an electric length measuring device to measure the baby,and/or an attachment mechanism to attach an electric length measuringdevice for measuring the baby.

Due to the fact that the length measuring device can be installed on thehousing or to the weighing tray, it is possible to not only weigh thebaby who is being cared for but also to measure its body length,virtually at the same time. These two pieces of information about theweight and length of the baby make it easy to draw conclusions about thedevelopmental and nutritional state of the baby and, for example, toappropriately plan the further feeding regimen of the baby.

In the manner according to the invention, it has been recognized that,with prior-art devices, a precise weight measurement becomes impossibleif the sensors or the measuring arms of mechanically separate lengthmeasuring devices are in contact with the baby who is to be weighed.Therefore, with the scales according to the invention, it is providedthat the measuring device for determining the weight of the baby,directly or indirectly, also supports the length measuring device thatlikewise gets weighed. However, the fact that the length measuringdevice is likewise weighed is not a problem because the known weight ofthe length measuring device—like, for instance, the weight of theweighing tray as well—can be automatically subtracted from the measuredresult, or because the baby scales have a tare function that sets themeasuring device to zero before the measurement is started.

In an embodiment, it is provided that the length measuring device isconfigured as a measuring slider. This ensures not only a simpleconstruction but also a simple handling of the length measuring deviceby a user.

In an especially convenient manner, the measuring slider can beconfigured as a digital measuring slider. This allows a particularlysimple and exact acquisition of the measured length values. In order todisplay the ascertained measured values simply and without problems, themeasuring slider can have a digital display. The ascertained measuredvalues can be read off especially easily and precisely to at least onedecimal point position. As an alternative or in addition, it can alsohave an analog display, for example, in order to allow a simple readingof the acquired measured values.

In another structurally simple manner, the measuring slider can have twoelements that can slide into each other. In concrete terms, the elementscan slide into each other telescopically. Simple elements can bepolygonal pipes or polygonal rods whose angular shape reliably preventsthem from twisting relative to each other in an undesired manner.

Appropriate units of length or a length scale can be marked on theelements that slide into each other. With such a length scale, evenbefore the actual measurement, at least a rough estimate can be made asto the length of the baby.

With an eye towards an especially precise length measurement, the outerends of the elements can each have a stop element that can pivotrelative to the element in question. In order to measure the length of ababy, the stop element should be placed into its measuring position,which is essentially a position that is perpendicular to the elements orto the individual element. When the length measuring device is not beingused and/or in order to position the baby on the scales withouthindrance by the length measuring device, the stop elements can bepivoted away from the baby scales or from the weighing tray, whereby, intheir pivoted-away position, the stop elements can, so to speak, form anextension of the elements that can slide into each other.

In an advantageous manner, the length measuring device can be attachedand detached in the manner of a retrofitted part. Thus, if desired, babyscales can be purchased without a length measuring device to start withand a length measuring device can be retrofitted if necessary. In anycase, the baby scales can already be pre-configured for such aretrofitting. For cleaning or transporting purposes as well, it ispractical if the length measuring device can be removed.

With an eye towards a secure installation of the length measuring deviceon the housing or on the weighing tray, the length measuring device canhave an additional attachment mechanism that can be arranged on thehousing or on the weighing tray. Here, various versions of theattachment mechanism are conceivable.

In another structurally simple manner, the additional attachmentmechanism can have a spring-preloaded clamp. Such a clamp can be used toeasily clamp the length measuring device onto the housing or onto theweighing tray. Such a clamp can be configured in such a way that twoclamp jaws spread when the clamp is actuated, and, due to the springaction, these clamp jaws move towards each other when the clamp isreleased, and they can, for example, grip an edge of the weighing tray.Such a clamp makes it especially easy to arrange the length measuringdevice on the housing or on the weighing tray.

As an alternative to this, in another structurally simple manner, theadditional attachment mechanism can have an insertion element or areceptacle. Such an insertion element or such a receptacle can interactin a simple manner with a corresponding receptacle or a correspondinginsertion element of the housing or weighing tray, in order to providean especially secure positioning and an especially precise arrangementof the length measuring device on the housing or on the weighing tray.

In an especially practical and convenient manner, the additionalattachment mechanism can have an electric contact to supply power to thelength measuring device via the baby scales and/or to transmit signalsbetween the length measuring device and the baby scales. If an electriccontact is provided to supply power, the power can be supplied to thelength measuring device—for example, in a version of the lengthmeasuring device as a digital measuring slider—in an especiallyconvenient, reliable and simple manner via the power supply of the babyscales. The baby scales can be provided with power either by means of abattery or by means of a mains connection. Consequently, a separatebattery or a separate mains connection is not needed for the lengthmeasuring device.

In highly precise baby scales, it is provided that the length measuringdevice has its own power supply that is electrically separate from thepower supply of the measuring device. In particular, it can be providedthat the measuring device, directly or indirectly, mechanically has itsown power supply. This effectively prevents part of the weight to bemeasured from being missed by the measuring device since it is exertedon the supply cables, or else it prevents parts of the supply cablesfrom inadvertently being weighed along with the baby. Both of thesescenarios would falsify the weight measurement. Before this backdrop, asan alternative or in addition, means can be provided for a cable-freetransmission of energy to the length measuring device. Here, it ispossible for the length measuring device to be supplied directly withthe transmitted energy or for the transmitted energy to be initiallybuffered, for example, in a battery.

In an especially efficient embodiment, the means for the cable-freetransmission function inductively and/or capacitively. For example, itcan be provided that the means for the cable-free transmission can haveat least one coil.

One embodiment of an electric contact for signal transmission betweenthe length measuring device and the baby scales allows an especiallyconvenient operation of the baby scales and of the length measuringdevice. For example, measured data acquired by means of the lengthmeasuring device or ascertained measured length values can betransmitted to the baby scales and displayed on the display of the babyscales—optionally together with an ascertained weight value. Acost-effective aspect is that a separate display for the lengthmeasuring device would not be necessary in this case. As an alternativeor in addition to this, it would be conceivable to transmit signals fromthe baby scales to the length measuring device, for example, in order totransmit control data for the length measuring device.

In order to ensure an especially secure arrangement of the lengthmeasuring device on the housing or on the weighing tray, the attachmentmechanism can have latching and/or locking means. For example, when thelength measuring device is being attached, a latching tab can engagewith the housing or with the weighing tray, so as to prevent accidentalremoval of the length measuring device from the housing or weighingtray. However, such a latching tab can be disengaged again in a simplemanner—by an intentional action of a user—so that it remains possible toremove the length measuring device from the housing or weighing tray ina simple manner.

With an eye towards a simple and secure arrangement of the lengthmeasuring device on the housing or on the weighing tray, the housing orweighing tray can have an attachment mechanism for attaching the lengthmeasuring device. Here, in a simple manner, the attachment mechanism canhave a receptacle or an insertion element that can interact with acorresponding insertion element or with a corresponding receptacle onthe length measuring device.

In an especially practical and convenient manner, the attachmentmechanism can have an electric contact to supply power to the lengthmeasuring device via the baby scales and/or to transmit signals betweenthe length measuring device and the baby scales. As far as theadvantages and functionality of baby scales having such an electriccontact are concerned, in order to avoid repetitions, reference ishereby made to the description of the advantages of such an electriccontact in conjunction with the above-mentioned attachment mechanism ofthe length measuring device.

In order to reliably arrange the length measuring device on the housingor on the weighing tray, the attachment mechanism can have latchingand/or locking means.

In this manner, accidental separation of the length measuring devicefrom the housing or from the weighing tray is prevented.

Especially with an eye towards obtaining an unfalsified weightmeasurement, in an embodiment, the signal transmission from and/or tothe length measuring device is effectuated without cables. For example,the signal transmission from and/or to the length measuring device canbe effectuated via a radio connection, especially a Bluetoothconnection. Such a signal transmission is independent of any attachmentmechanisms. Finally, however, in an especially simple embodiment, acable can also run from the length measuring device to the baby scales.For this purpose, appropriate insertion mechanisms can be provided.However, it is especially elegant to effectuate the signal transmissionby a radio connection, as a result of which the need to lay cables andthus the above-mentioned problem of the risk of a falsification of themeasuring values can be avoided.

In order to create a length measuring device that is independent of thepower supply of the baby scales, the length measuring device can beoperated by means of a battery.

In an especially compact embodiment of the baby scales, the housing andthe weighing tray are configured so as to be an integral part. Finally,the weighing tray can be integrally shaped onto the housing or thehousing can be integrally shaped onto the weighing tray.

In an especially practical manner, the weight as well as the length ofthe baby can be shown on the display of the baby scales. This allows anespecially clear display of the data and values determined by the babyscales.

In order to further process or archive the data and/or measured valuesacquired by the baby scales and/or by the length measuring device, thebaby scales can have a device to output the data and/or measured valuesacquired and/or determined by the baby scales and/or by the lengthmeasuring device. Depending on the application case, such a device canbe configured to output the data and/or the measured values via a cableand/or via radio. Especially in the case of longer transmissiondistances between the baby scales and a processing device—for example, apersonal computer—transmission via radio is especially practical sincelonger cables can be avoided.

In another especially convenient manner, the electronic system of thebaby scales and/or of the length measuring device can be configured insuch a way that that switching the baby scales over between differentunits of weight brings about a corresponding switching over betweendifferent units of length of the length measuring device. For example,if a user switches the unit of weight of the baby scales from kilogramsto pounds, this can automatically result in a switching over of the unitof length from centimeters to inches. In the same manner, switching overthe unit of length of the length measuring device can automaticallyresult in a switching over of the unit of weight of the baby scales. Anappropriate attaching can be provided here.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of an embodiment of babyscales according to the invention, having a housing 1, a weighing tray 2installed on the housing 1 to hold a baby, a measuring device (not shownhere) that supports the weighing tray 2 and serves to determine theweight of the baby, and a display 3 to show the determined weight. Withan eye towards achieving convenient care of the baby employing astructurally simple means, a length measuring device 4 for the baby isinstalled on the housing 1 or to the weighing tray 2.

The baby scales shown in FIG. 1 are standing on a substrate (not shownhere) and they allow the determination of the weight of a baby to bemeasured as well as the determination of its length. The attached lengthmeasuring device 4 is configured as a digital measuring slider 5. Themeasuring slider 5 has a digital display 6 so that the measured lengthof the baby can be read off. Concretely speaking, the measuring slider 5has two elements 7 and 8 that can slide into each other. The outer endsof the elements 7 and 8 each have a stop element 9 that can pivotrelative to the corresponding element 7 and 8. When the length measuringdevice 4 is not being used and/or in order to position the baby on theweighing tray 2 without hindrance, the stop elements 9 can be pivotedaway from the baby scales.

The length measuring device 4 can be arranged on the baby scales anddetached from them in the manner of a retrofitted component. With an eyetowards attaining a secure installation of the length measuring deviceon the baby scales, the length measuring device 4 has an additionalattachment mechanism 10. Concretely speaking, the attachment mechanism10 has an insertion element 11.

In schematic and perspective views—seen from the back of the babyscales—FIGS. 2 and 3 show the unattached and attached states of thelength measuring device 4. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the length measuring device4 is configured as an analog length measuring device 4 having an analogdisplay 12. The analog display 12 has a length scale.

The additional attachment mechanism 10 has a latching and locking means13 on the insertion element 11, said this latching and locking means 13making it possible to latch and/or lock the length measuring device 4onto the baby scales.

For this purpose, the housing 1 has an attachment mechanism 14 to attachthe length measuring device 4. The attachment mechanism 14 has areceptacle 15 into which the insertion element 11 of the lengthmeasuring device 4 can be inserted, as is shown in FIG. 3. Theattachment mechanism 14 also has latching and/or locking means 16 thatinteract with the latching and/or locking means 13 of the attachmentmechanism 11.

The latching and/or locking means 16 have a spring element that engagesinto a recess of the latching and locking means 13 of the lengthmeasuring device 4.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic and perspective view of two different measuringsliders 5 that, on the one hand, have an analog display 12 and, on theother hand, a digital display 6. The length measuring device 4 shown inthe lower section of FIG. 4 has an electric contact 17 on the insertionelement 11 in order to supply power to the length measuring device 4 viathe power supply of the baby scales. A separate power supply for thedigital display 6, for example, via a battery, is not needed here. Viathe electric contacts 17, signals can also be transmitted between thelength measuring device 4 and the baby scales or the electronic systemof the baby scales. In this manner, measured values or measured dataacquired with the length measuring device 4 can be transmitted to thebaby scales, or else control signals can be transmitted from the babyscales to the length measuring device 4.

An ON/OFF switch 18 is provided adjacent to the digital display 6 toturn the digital display 6 on and off.

As far as additional embodiments of the baby scales according to theinvention are concerned, in order to avoid repetitions, reference ishereby made to the general part of the description as well as to theaccompanying claims.

Finally, it should be explicitly pointed out that the embodiment of thebaby scales according to the invention described above serves merely toelucidate the claimed teaching, but by no means limits the claimedteaching to this embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 housing-   2 weighing tray-   3 display-   4 length measuring device-   5 measuring slider-   6 digital display-   7 element-   8 element-   9 stop element-   10 additional attachment mechanism-   11 insertion element-   12 analog display-   13 latching and locking means-   14 attachment mechanism-   15 receptacle-   16 latching and locking means-   17 electric contact-   18 ON/OFF switch

1. Baby scales comprising: a housing; a weighing tray disposed on thehousing and configured to hold a baby; a measuring device configured tosupport the weighing tray and to determine a weight of the baby, whereinthe measuring device includes an electric length measuring deviceconfigured to measure a length of the baby and an attachment mechanismconfigured to attach the electric length measuring device to thehousing, wherein the electric length measuring device includes at leastone of a measuring slider and a digital measuring slider, the measuringslider including a first element slideable into a second element,wherein the first element includes at least one first outer end and thesecond element includes at least one second outer end, the at least onefirst outer end having a stop element pivotable relative to the firstelement and the at least one second outer end having a stop elementpivotable relative to the second element: and a display disposed on thehousing and configured to show the determined weight of the baby.
 2. Thebaby scales as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric length measuringdevice is attachable and detachable as a retrofitted part.
 3. The babyscales as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric length measuringdevice includes an additional attachment mechanism disposable on atleast one of the housing and the weighing tray.
 4. The baby scales asrecited in claim 3, wherein at least one of the attachment mechanism andthe additional attachment mechanism includes an electric contactconfigured to at least one of supply power to the electric lengthmeasuring device through the baby scale and transmit a signal betweenthe electric length measuring device and the baby scale.
 5. The babyscales as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric length measuringdevice includes a power supply that is electrically separate from apower supply of the measuring device.
 6. The baby scales as recited inclaim 5, wherein the measuring device is configured to directly orindirectly mechanically carry the power supply of the measuring device.7. The baby scales as recited in claim 1, further comprising acable-free transmission device configured to transmit energy to theelectric length measuring device in a cable-free manner.
 8. The babyscales as recited in claim 7, wherein the cable-free transmission deviceis configured to function at least one of inductively and capactively.9. The bay scales as recited in claim 7, wherein cable-free transmissiondevice includes at least one coil.
 10. The baby scales as recited inclaim 1, wherein the electric length measuring device is configured totransmit and receive a signal without cables via at least one of a radioconnection and a Bluetooth connection.
 11. The baby scales as recitedclaim 1, wherein the housing and the weighing tray are integral witheach other.
 12. The baby scales as recited in claim 1, wherein thedisplay is configured to show the length of the baby.
 13. The babyscales as recited in claim 1, further comprising an output deviceconfigured to output at least one of data and measured values, the dataand measured values being at least one of acquired and determined by atleast one of the measuring device and the electric length measuringdevice.
 14. The baby scales as recited in claim 1, further comprising anelectronic system configured to switch the electric length measuringdevice to a different unit of length upon a switching of the baby scalesto a different unit of weight.
 15. The baby scale as recited in claim 1,wherein the electric length measuring device includes an electronicsystem configured to switch the electric length measuring device to adifferent unit of length upon a switching of the baby scales to adifferent unit of weight.